Londonderry News

South Londonderry School hosts dedication and show on Sunday!

The Administration, Faculty and Students of South Londonderry Elementary School cordially invite community members to attend the celebration of the South School Replacement and Renovation Project, along with their Annual Art Show.

• Sunday, May 17, 2009.
• The Ceremony will be held from 1:00 to 2:00PM
• Art Show following from 2:00 to 4:00PM.

The South School community is grateful for the Londonderry taxpayers’ support last March in approving the warrant article to fund the modular classroom replacement and renovations to South School. The construction began the moment the buses rolled out on the last day of school and was completed in time for all classes to move into the new spaces in the replacement wing and in the main building before the Winter Break. Pro Con Incorporated did a superb job in coordinating the building project and the custodial staff played an important role in the success of the transition back into the new spaces.

The students and staff are very appreciative of these beautiful new spaces. The Art Room has a tiled floor and two sinks. There is now a music room and the library has been expanded. Special Curriculum classes finally have the appropriate space for their needs. Special education spaces now each have four walls instead of shared spaces or closet areas. The eight classes that were temporarily housed in modular classrooms were thrilled to be back in standard-sized rooms in the new wing of the building.

The expanded nurse’s office, improved kitchen area and the beautiful tile in the hallways, multipurpose room and gymnasium provide a continued source of appreciation. The new location of the main office has greatly improved the ability to monitor visitors to the building. And finally, the expanded parking areas have provided much relief. Further improvements made this spring include the installation of new playground equipment and landscaping of the courtyard. Still to come this summer will be the completion of the new baseball diamond, field improvements and paving.

APPRECIATION FOR SOUTH SCHOOL POND

As South School dedicates our new addition this Sunday, the students and staff owe a debt of gratitude to, first and foremost, the people of Londonderry who voted to fund the addition, and also the Building Committee who worked tirelessly to create the vision for the addition, and Pro-Con who made that vision a reality.

We are also thankful for those people who are creating our courtyard garden and pond:
First, Deb Brennan, our tireless Instructional Assistant who volunteers countless hours working with the Apprentice Gardeners and maintaining all of the gardens around the school; Jean Laurent who volunteered his services as a landscape designer; Charlie Holland of Chester Hollow Water Gardens in Chester, for designing the pond, organizing the volunteers to build the pond, and donating the fish, plants and gravel for the pond; and Larry Bartlett of L.A. Bartlett Landscapes, in Derry who taught us about the ecosystem in the pond;

Special thanks go to those who paid for the pond: the Apprentice Gardeners who donated the funds from their Mother’s Day Sale, as well as Hannaford Supermarkets and LifeTouch.

We would also like to recognize the following people who volunteered their time and labor to build the pond:
Mike Rioux of Rioux’s Landscape and Design Center in Chester, NH
Dave Doyle of Kodiak Landscaping in Auburn, NH
Sean Frost, April Dugan and Lindsay Dugan of Naturescapes in Grafton, NH
Adaela McLaughlin and Linda Stanley of Peaceful Valley Gardens in Haverhill, MA,
Jim Ruprecht of Bay State Aquascapes in Kingston, MA
Dave Winter of Lawns/Landscaping in Poultney, VT
The third graders of South School

The creation of the courtyard garden and pond was a massive undertaking. One which would not have been possible without the army of volunteers and donations that helped to make it a reality. Thank you all for your exceedingly hard work and generosity.

Sincerely,

Students and Staff of South School
Londonderry, NH

The community will have the opportunity to see all these changes at the Dedication Ceremony on Sunday, May 17. The event is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend!

Pond image courtesy photo, read the rest of the story for more photos of the construction of the pond at Londonderry South School.